Pole boot



July 22, 1958 H. CATER 2,843,890

POLE BOOT i Fiied March 5, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 ,l n f 7 (g 7 )r vATTORNEYS July 22, 195s A H. L. CATER Y 2,843,890

' POLE BOOT Filed March 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTGRNEYS.

United States Patent g O POLE BOOT Harry L. Cater, Kansas City, Mo.'

Application March 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,377

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-100) This invention relates to a boot or guardconstructed of tire proof material for positioning around the lower orbutt end of a telegraph or telephone pole or the like, for theprotection of the pole against damage caused by lire, termites or otherelements that cause damage and deterioration of such poles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a boot of thischaracter which may be readily and easily positioned around the butt endof a pole prior to the setting or positioning of the pole in the ground,the lower end of the boot being so constructed that it will cover orhouse the butt end of the pole, providing a protecting surface betweenthe end of the pole and hole in which it is set.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boot of this characterwhich may be positioned around poles after the poles have beenpositioned or set, the boot providing adequate tire protection and atthe same time providing an exceptionally effective ground to which theground wires of electric circuits may be connected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a one-piecetire-proof boot adapted to be wrapped around a pole and secured inposition through the medium of a lacing wire capable ot drawing theoverlapping ends of the boot together in such close engagement with thepole as to exclude the elements which would otherwise damage such poles.

With the foregoing andother objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental elevational View of a pole, the butt end ofwhich is equipped with a boot constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank prior to positioning it around a pole.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental enlarged elevational view illustrating the wireused in lacing the overlapped ends of the boot together. j

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken online 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view illustrating the boot as folded over thebutt end of a pole.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicatesa telegraph or telephone pole, and the reference character 6 indicates apole boot to be constructed in accordance with the invention, aspositioned on the butt end of the pole.

The boot comprises a length of lire-proof material, preferably sheetmetal, the length and width of the boot being determined by therequirements of use.

FVice As shown, the boot is provided with prongs 7 which are struck upfrom the metal of which the boot is formed, the prongs 7 being arrangedin a line and in predetermined spaced relation with respect to eachother through out the length of the boot. As shown by Fig. 2, the prongs7 are formed adjacent to one edge of the boot so that the lacing wire,to be hereinafter more fully described, when positioned over the prongs,will effect a pull on the extreme edge of the boot.

Arranged in rows extending longitudinally of the other edge of the boot6, are prongs 8 and 9, the prongs 8 and 9 being so arranged that whenthe boot is wrapped around the butt end of a pole, the prongs 7 willfall with such relation to the prongs 8 and 9 as to receive the lacingwire 10. For this purpose the prongs 7 are oppositely inclined relativeto the incline of the prongs 8 and 9 on the opposite edge of the boot.The lacing wire 10 is formed with the loop 11 at one end thereof, theloop adapted to be fitted over one of the prongs 7, which will be usedin lacing the overlapped ends of the boot together. The lacing wirewhich is indicated by the reference character 10, is now positioned overalternate prongs 7, and 8 or 9, in a manner as shown by Fig. 1 of thedrawing. The lower end of the lacing wire 10 is now looped over thelowermost prong 7, securing the lacing wire in position.

During the lacing operation, it will of course, be understood that thewire is drawn taut to draw the overlapped ends of the boot togethertightly.

The lower end of the boot is cut to provide the extensions 12, whichextensions are bent inwardly over the butt end of the pole, in a manneras shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings, whereupon a securing nail such asindicated at 13, is driven into the overlapped ends of such extensions,to the end that the butt end of the pole is completely housed with theextensions providing a supporting base to protect the butt end of thepole.

While I have shown and described the boot as being constructed oflire-proof metal, it is within the scope of the invention to constructthe boot of any desired material.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A polevboot comprising a body constructed of flexible reproof sheetmetal adapted to be bent around the butt end of a pole, with itsadjacent edges overlapped, housing the butt end of the pole, spacedprongs struck from the metal body arranged in vertical rows adjacent tothe edges of said body, said prongs extending outwardly out of the planeof the body, the prongs of each row being oppositely inclined relativeto the incline of the row of projections on the opposite edge of thesheet, and the prongs of each row being staggered relative to the prongsof the opposite row, a llexible wire lacing member laced over saidprongs, engaging about a prong of each row alternately and adapted todraw the overlapped edges of said body together, triangular extensionsformed integral with the body at one end thereof, and bent intooverlapping engagement with the butt end of the pole, and means forsecuring the overlapped extensions together and to the butt end of thepole.

References Cited in the le of this patent y UNITED STATES PATENTS574,436 Lawrence Jan. 5, 1897 763,023 Sayer lune 21, 1904 822,131 HyderMay 29, 1906 913,482 Ette Feb. 23, 1909 2,014,477 Lee Sept. 17, 19352,189,436 Rosenield Feb. 6, 1940 2,724,156 Shaw Nov. 22, 1955

